Angelina Jolie slams ‘corrupt’ judge in Brad Pitt custody case

Angelina Jolie has lashed out at the judge who presided over her child custody case against Brad Pitt, saying he was “biased” towards her superstar ex.

Angelina Jolie slams ‘corrupt’ judge in Brad Pitt custody case. Picture: Getty Images

Angelina Jolie has alleged the judge who presided over her and Brad Pitt’s child custody case was “biased” and favoured her ex-husband.

Now the Oscar-winner is using her personal experience to push legislation to monitor “corrupt” officers of the court.

In a two-page letter dated September 29 and obtained by the New York Post, Jolie urged California Governor Gavin Newsom to support “Piqui’s Law,” which would require domestic violence training for judges, mediators and other court professionals on the effects of child abuse and trauma.

Angelina Jolie has slammed the “biased” judge who presided over her and Brad Pitt’s child custody case. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

A source close to Jolie told the New York Post that the actress is pushing for the legislation after the trauma she encountered under Los Angeles Judge John W. Ouderkirk, who refused to allow her children to testify about domestic violence they allegedly experienced at the hands of Pitt.

“This is personal to her, and for good reason,” a source close to Jolie said.

“Look at what she faced from a biased judge who was removed by the appellate court for his corrupt and secretive financial dealings with Brad Pitt’s team that violated judicial ethics in her family’s case, and who refused to review evidence of domestic abuse.

Brad Pitt, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, Zahara Jolie-Pitt and Angelina Jolie are pictured in LA in 2014. Picture: GVK/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images

“It’s no surprise she has taken on this specific issue. Their whole family is a victim of system failure. She has been fighting privately for her family and publicly for other families for years.”

Sources close to Brad Pitt, however, told The New York Post that Jolie is using “her usual tactics” to “misrepresent the truth” and damage the reputation of the judge and other professionals who have testified against the actress.

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt split in 2016. Picture: CelebrityPhoto/Avalon

Ouderkirk, a retired private judge who actually officiated the former couple’s nuptials, ruled in May 2021 that the couple would maintain 50/50 custody of their children.

The couple have six children — Maddox, 22, Pax, 19, Zahara, 18, Shiloh, 17, and twins Knox and Vivienne, who are 15.

Jolie said Ouderkirk denied her children the opportunity to testify even though California law allowed 14-year-old children and above to do so.

Jolie challenged the judge’s tentative custody decision and filed a petition in the appellate court to remove Ouderkirk from the case.

The judge refused to allow Angelina Jolie’s children to testify about domestic violence they allegedly experienced at the hands of Brad Pitt. Picture: Getty Images

In July 2021, it ruled Ouderkirk should be disqualified from the case because the retired judge didn’t sufficiently disclose business relationships with Pitt’s lawyers.

However, sources close to Pitt’s legal team told The Post the 2021 appellate court ruling was based on a “technical procedure,” and had nothing to do with the facts related to the custody case.

Angelina Jolie spoke about her divorce in a Vogue interview. Picture: Vogue

The former couple pictured with their kids in 2009. Picture: Getty Images

Sources close to Pitt’s team added, “While the legislation she is supporting is potentially very viable, it has nothing to do with her custody case. It is inexplicable why she would use her advocacy for another defamatory effort to disregard all the objective facts in order to advance her own interest.”

Angelina Jolie meets with the Queen in 2014. Picture: AFP

A source close to Jolie said the judge’s decision not to allow her children to testify should not happen to other children, and Piqui’s Law would protect that right.

“As a reminder, to this date, Pitt has still not ever denied his abusive behaviour,” the source said.

“New training for judges is absolutely necessary. If this happened to Jolie in her court case, just imagine what is happening all over the country.”

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie were Hollywood’s golden couple. Picture: Getty Images

The legal battle between the two stars is far from over as they continue to fight over the French vineyard they once shared. A hearing in Los Angeles is scheduled for that civil case this week.

– with the New York Post

Originally published as Angelina Jolie slams ‘corrupt’ judge in Brad Pitt custody case